Chapter 4: KAT

Chances are I was going to be fired anyway, so what the hell.

"Fact of the matter is, you were obnoxiously rude, Mr. Grumpy. If you want respect, then you first have to give it."

"Excuse me young lady, do you have any idea who I am?"

"Marcª"

Again Colton tried to intervene, but I beat him to it, enough is enough.

For the past three months or so I've been playing the coward. Just because life had thrown me a curveball, didn't mean I had to roll over and play dead, and I'd be damned if I was going to play the coward here like I had in Arizona.

"Listen, Dragon heart, I don't really much care who you are. From the looks of you, you have money, and maybe that's why you think you can get away with treating people just any old way, but your money doesn't mean squat to me, so why don't you take your money and your pompous attitude and go fuª"

"Katª"

" Sloaneª"

Jared and Colton cut into my resignation speech before I could get to the good part.

Suddenly there was a burst of raucous laughter as Mr. Grumpy bent double in laughter.

"You've got the contract, Lyon." He held his hand out to Colton as he almost choked on his laughter.

Colton looked from him to me and back again before shaking his head and taking the hand.

I have no idea what the hell had just happened.

"Back to work, show's over, and that means you too, Sloane."

I turned and escaped back into the office.

***

COLT

***

I waited 'til only Jared and I were left in the hallway, and Marcus had gone off to the showroom with the guys.

"She's not at all what she seems, is she?"

"Nope!"

"What the fuck is going on, Jared?"

"You'll just have to wait to find out."

Shit, she'd just landed me what could be my most lucrative deal. A contract I'd been after for a year now, and a deal that will have my bikes all over the world.

"Tell me something, Jared, is she going to turn my place upside down?"

"Nah...well not in a bad way anyhow."

I looked at him full on with the do not fuck with me glare.

"What am I in for?"

"All I will say is that it's good to see some of the old Kat again, after what those fucks did to herª"

He stopped short and cut himself off. I felt a burning in my gut as my fists curled.

"What fucks, what're you talking about?"

"Fuck, it's not my story to tell..."

"Bull fucking shit, somebody hurt her?"

Why the fuck was I so angry at the mere thought? I looked towards the door she'd just gone through. What the fuck was going on here?

"I can't tell you man. It's up to her who she tells, but just know it was a bad scene, and she came out of it okay, but...fuck man it was bad."

I somehow found myself following her into the office, never mind that the man I've been trying to pin down for the last year was even now waiting for me to conduct business. The type of business that could keep me and the boys busy for the foreseeable future, not to mention make a fuck load of money, and get our bikes recognized worldwide, along with a whole lot of other perks.

Jared had hinted at something sinister in her past, and foolish or not, I had the need to see her, and to make sure she was okay.

She was back behind the computer, her eyes glued to the screen in concentration, or she was giving a good impression of concentrating anyway.

I took the time to study her, and I saw that she had her hair pulled back in a tight bun with two pencils sticking out of it. The ugly gray suit jacket looked like a box on her small frame as she hunched her shoulders.

When she looked up I was caught once again by the unparalleled beauty of her eyes. They were a deep indigo blue, without a speck of black. More than that, the thing that made them shine were the whites, and there was no blemish, no redness, nothing.

Just clean, clear whites, like a baby's.

I could get lost in them, or maybe not.

She flicked her eyes my way and back down again, hunching her shoulders even more.

"What do you have to say for yourself, Sloane?"

"Uhm..." She bit her lip and hung her head.

"Sorry?"

"Why do you phrase every thing like question?"

"I didn't know I was doing that si ... I mean, Colton."

"You want to tell me what went on with you and Grimaldi?"

"The gentleman was a little unpleasant..."

"Tell it like it is, the old fuck is a rude asshole. What I want to know is what you did that caused him to offer me a deal that he's been waffling on for almost a year.

"Nothing, absolutely nothing."

She sure could do innocent well. If I hadn't heard her light into him then, I would've sworn she was a timid little thing, but I'd gotten a glimpse of the fire inside her.

"Didn't I tell you if anyone bothered you, you were to come see me?"

"Uh, well, he got here too fast for me to do anything."

"Don't let that shit happen againª"

The phone rang and interrupted me.

Just as well because I was running out of shit to pick at as an excuse to stay.

Why the hell I should want to, was beyond me. The girl, even though she had amazing eyes, dressed and acted like someone's grandmother.

That is, when she wasn't spitting fire like a hellcat.

"Yes ma'am, he's right here...Katarina ma'am...no ma'am it's my first day...yesterday."

I heard my mother's squeal from across the room. Shit. I walked over to take the phone before she said God knows what.

"I'll take that."

She handed over the phone with a frown.

Mom tended to have that effect on unsuspecting people.

"Momª"

"She's the one Colton, Char was right, I can't wait to tell her, when can I meet her..." She went on and on not letting me get a word in edgewise.

"Mom, no, not going to happen now. Why were you calling?"

"The annual Memorial Day barbecue picnic. You have to remind the guys. I sent out the invites but not everyone got back as yet, and I need the numbers. I also need to know if there are any special dishes I need to prepare. You know Linda became a vegetarian last year, and I just need to stay on top of things, so everyone's taken care of. Now tell me about Katarina, is she as sweet as she sounds?"

"We're not having this conversation, mom."

"Oh, I get it, she's right there. Never mind we'll talk later, and I want all the details. Whee, a new daughter, I can't waitª"

"Gotta go, mom, working here."

"Okay, son, talk to you later." I hung up before she could start in again.

"If that lady calls here do not divulge any information, or she'll know your whole history in ten seconds flat trust me."

I hated the fleeting look of sorrow that flashed across her face.

"I have to get back."

"Kay."

I walked away wondering about the hint of pain in her eyes. There was something there, and I wanted to know what the fuck it was. If I didn't get some answers real fucking soon, then I'd just beat that shit out of Jared.

***

KAT

***

She'll know your whole history in ten seconds flat. What a depressing thought.

I'd been feeling a little giddy then. I'd gone from facing imminent termination, to landing the boss a lucrative contract, something I still didn't quite understand but knew it was all good.

Though I did think grumpy old man was bat shit crazy. Colton came into the room sucking up all the oxygen, and I'd sent up a silent prayer of thanks that I'd get to bask in his glow for yet another day.

Then came the phone call. Obviously it was his mother, and she sounded nice enough if a little nosy, so I could so see the truth in his words.

She talks a mile a minute, and she trips from one topic to the next before you can catch your breath.

I settled back into work for the last couple hours until it was knockoff time. Jared was all excited when he came to take me home. I barely heard, or understood, a word he said since I was too busy being bummed that Colton was nowhere in sight.

"So you're going to go right?"

"Huh, go where?"

"The Lyon's barbecue, didn't you hear a word I said?"

"No, not really."

"Colton's parents, every year they have a Memorial Day barbecue slash picnic, and you have to come. Everyone's going to be there, even your dad drops by sometimes if he's not working."

"I don't know, I mean no one invited me... plus that's only, like, five days away, and I didn't bring anything suitable to wear to something like that."

I looked down at the butt ugly suit and nurse Ratchet shoes I was now wearing.

"Come on, Kat, it'll be fun, and I'll be there, so nothing will go wrong."

"I don't know, Jared..."

"At least think about it okay."

"Sure, I'll think about it, but no promises."

"No problem, let's get on the road. I have a hot date lined up for tonight."

"You're such a dog, Jared, who is she this time?"

"New chick, you know the chicks dig me, sexy beast."

"Yeah okay, whatever floats your boat, at least you got the beast part right."

"Whatever, smart ass."

He put me in a playful headlock just as Colton turned the corner.

"See ya later boss."

Jared called out as we walked pass.

Didn't he notice that look on Colton's face? Talk about shooting daggers with your eyes. It's a wonder I wasn't an ember. And why the hell was he looking at me like I betrayed him. I hope bat shit guy hadn't changed his mind about the deal. Shit.